According to Vibes.okdiario The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) recently announced that certain counties affected by Hurricane Helene will be eligible for disaster-related SNAP assistance, also known as DSNAP.
This special version of SNAP is designed to offer quick and efficient food assistance to families who have suffered losses due to the hurricane. The program provides Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which can be used at authorized SNAP retailers to purchase food. DSS is specifically targeting households that have incurred non-reimbursable losses as a result of the storm.
What is DSNAP?
DSNAP, or Disaster-Specific SNAP, is a temporary program that provides food assistance to individuals and families affected by natural disasters. The assistance comes in the form of reloadable debit cards, which can only be used for food purchases at approved stores. The program is intended to help alleviate the financial burden on families dealing with housing damage, lost income, or additional expenses due to the disaster.
Phases of Assistance and Participating Counties
DSS has rolled out DSNAP assistance in two phases, starting with a group of counties hardest hit by Hurricane Helene. Residents from these counties can pre-register and complete a phone interview to determine eligibility. The counties included in the first phase are:
- Aiken
- Allendale
- Anderson
- Bamberg
- Barnwell
- Beaufort
- Cherokee
- Hampton
- Laurens
- McCormick
- Saluda
- Spartanburg
- Union
- York
These counties, which experienced significant damage from the hurricane, are the first to have access to this critical support.
Requirements to Qualify for DSNAP
To be eligible for DSNAP, households must have lived in the affected counties during the hurricane and sustained disaster-related losses. Eligibility is generally based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Damage to or destruction of the primary residence
- Loss of income or limited income due to hurricane-related issues
- Unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses directly caused by the disaster
It’s important to note that food loss alone does not qualify a household for DSNAP. Households must also experience other non-reimbursable losses to meet the eligibility requirements.
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Upcoming Assistance for Additional Counties
In addition to the initial counties, DSS plans to expand DSNAP assistance to other regions in the Midlands. Future phases will include counties such as Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Richland. This phased rollout will help ensure that more residents have access to necessary food assistance.
How to Apply for DSNAP Assistance
The application process for DSNAP is straightforward. Eligible residents can pre-register and then participate in a phone interview to verify their eligibility. If approved, families will receive a DSNAP debit card pre-loaded with the necessary amount to purchase food at SNAP-authorized stores.
A Critical Resource During Times of Crisis
The DSNAP program provides essential support to South Carolina families who have experienced significant hardships due to Hurricane Helene. By offering food assistance through EBT cards, the program helps families secure groceries without diverting funds from repairs or other recovery efforts.
This initiative underscores DSS’s commitment to supporting communities in times of crisis, ensuring that families have access to the nutrition they need while they recover from the storm’s aftermath. Through DSNAP, South Carolina is providing vital relief to residents, promoting stability and food security during an extremely challenging time.
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